Download and install the latest Google Play Services free

Google Play Services is an application that very closely linked to the Android system itself that allows your smartphone to benefit from the latest versions of applications and security patches without upgrading to the latest version of Android. Despite the confusing names, this is distinct from the Google Play Store where one can access, buy, and download media such as apps and games.

Google Play Services 11.6.X: what’s new?

The latest version of Google Play Services is 11.6.X, and it was introduced in November of 2017. It streamlines many aspects relating to ads, games, fitness and more, making the overall Google ecosystem operation more efficient. It also fixed some problems that would cause occasional crashes and generally makes life easier for app developers.

Prior to the newest versions of Google Play Services, versions 10.0.X (the last one to support Gingerbread) to 10.2.X (the last to support Honeycomb) reigned from November 2016 until May 2017. Before that, versions 9.0.X up to 9.8.X were current from May 2016 to October 2016.

Install Google Play Services: the easy way

Keeping Google Play Services up-to-date is beneficial for all users, even the most casual ones, as the improved efficiency it brings will save battery life and improve offline services.

The simplest way to always have the latest version of Google Play Services installed is to keep an eye on this page, where we’ll provide you with a download link to the very latest versions available in the Play Store. Just tap the install button below to ensure you have the current version.

However, as with most things Android, there are always newer and better versions available if you’re willing to put in a little more effort. For example, there are multiple versions of Google Play Services for the different versions of Android you might have. So, if you want the very latest version, just follow the steps below.

Install Google Play Services: the technical way

Users who want to make absolutely sure they have the latest updates, or want to access a beta or test different versions of Google Play Services, might want to use a more technical method. This can be useful for app developers, or for anyone who is suffering from a software error that blocks Google Play Services from updating normally.

First, you’ll need to know which version of Android you have. Go to Settings > About Phone and look for Android Version. Then, you’ll need unknown sources enabled on your phone. This just allows you to install apps from outside Google Play. Go to Settings > Security > Unknown Sources and check the box.

Next, you need to know which version of Play Services is right for you. This is where your Android version number comes in. Each Google Play Services version has a three number suffix at the end, following the hyphen.

These three numbers are broken down as follows: Android version, CPU architecture and dots per inch (DPI). You can check the current version of Google Play Services by going to Settings > Apps > All tab > Google Play Services.

So in the screenshot above you can tell I have a Lollipop device running an ARMv8 chip with 320 DPI. If you want to do things the other way around and figure out which number you should be looking for, just grab CPU-Z, which will tell you your CPU architecture and DPI. The good news is that once you know this information it won’t change until you get a new phone.

Download Google Play Services APK

Now you simply have to choose the right Google Play Services version based on the three pieces of information you just collected. You can find the latest versions of Google Play Services hosted on APK Mirror and select the right one with the right suffix for your device. Then, just download and install Google Play Services onto your phone.

Did you find this guide useful? Any tips or information you think we missed out on?